Bell ringing device for toy locomotives



NOV. 15, 1932. D BQISSELlER 1 88?,988

BELL RINGING DEVICE FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVES Filed June 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l R/ I L I 3mm E.Boi6selier3 NOV. 15, 1932. E D BQ!SSE| ]ER 1,83%988 BELL RINGING DEVICE FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVES Filed June 17, 1932 2 Sheets-$heet 2 L. Boisselien end of the frameB of the motor unit and has extending rearwardly therefrom an upper arm 15 on which is mounted a bell 16, and a lower arm 17 on which is mounted a solenoid 18 inclusive of a winding 19 and a reciprocal core 20 constituting a clapper or striker for the bell 16.

The construction and the mounting of the solenoid 18 constitutes in itself a novel feature'of the invention in that a central tube 21 constituting a guide for the core 20 and around which the winding 19 is disposed, is formed as a means of fastening the solenoid to the bracket arm 17 and also for cooperation with the core 20 to support the latter normally in a position spaced from the bell 16 for projection thereagainst when the solenoid is energized. The solenoid is supported 20 alined with the bell whereby the coreis projected upwardlyto strike the bell upon energization of the solenoid and drops by gravity to a normal position spaced from the bell when the solenoid is deenergized. In this connection it will be observed that the core -20 is formed near its lower end with a lateral projection 22 in the form of an annular flange and that the tube 21 is interiorly shouldered asat 23 to provide a stop to be engaged by the projection 22to'limit downward movement of the core. Consequently, whenever the solenoid is deenergized the core 20 gravitates to a normal position of rest with the projection 22 engaging the shoulder 23 and with the upper headed end of said core spaced appropriately from the bell 16. At its lower end the tube'21 is formed of reduced exterior diameter to extend downwardly through an opening in the bracket arm 17 and to provide a shoulder 24 to seat against the upper face Mounted within the cab'a or at any other suitable :location on the locomotive is a small manually operable 7 electric 1 switch of any suitable type designated generally as S and illustrated in the present instance as being of the knife blade type. One terminal 25 of this switch is connected by a conductor 26 with the trolley 13 preferably through a clip 27, and the other terminal 28 of said switch is connected by a conductor 29 with one end'of the solenoid winding 19. Thus, assuming current to be supplied through the trolley to the conductor 26, and the switch 3 to be closed, it is apparent that upon grounding of the other end of the solenoid winding a circuit through the solenoid is completed with consequent energization of the same and pro- "jection of the core or clapper 21 upwardly the switch.- *verticallybeneath the bell 16 with the core grounding and thereby closing the solenoid against the bell 16. On the other hand, when the switch S is open, grounding of the last mentioned end of the solenoid winding obviously is ineflective to cause energization of the solenoid. Means are provided for intering of the end of the solenoid winding opposite the end thereof that is connectedto Novel means isprovided for periodically circuit during movement of the locomotive when the switch S- .is closed. This means comprises in the present instance a yieldable arm 30 mounted, on the bracket 14 and insulated therefrom, a conductor 31 connecting said arm with the end of the solenoid'winding opposite the endthereof to which the ,conductorz29 is connected, a grounded shaft 32 mountedin the motor frame B and geared to the locomotive driving means for rotation during movement ofthe locomotive either forwardly'o'r backwardly, and a projection 33 on said shaft disposed to wipe against the arm .30 once during each complete rotation of the shaft 32 thus'to ground and complete the solenoid circuit with consequent projection of the core or bell l6.'

As heretofore stated, prior bell ringing devices have had the disadvantage of effecting ringing of the bell with too short a time interval between successive soundings of the bell. To avoid this disadvantage the present invention employs a simple driving means for the shaft 32, operated-by the motor unit of the locomotive, whereby the bell is, sounded clapper 20 against the only once during a plurality of complete rotations of the driveiwheels of the locomotive. Thus, even when thelocomotive is running at maximum speed there is obtained a distinct pause between successive soundings of the 'bell, which pause is predetermined according to the normal speed of travel of the locomotive so that the time interval between successive soundings of'the bell closely approximates the ordinary pause between the successive sounding of the bell of a large locomotive.

The driving means for the shaft 32 com prises in the present instance a Geneva gear including a disk 34 carried either by one of the drive wheels 10 or by one .of the drive wheel. axles, and provided with a peripheral recess 35, a pin 36 fixed with respect tosai'd disk and. disposed outwardly thereof in radial alinement with the recess 35, and aof the disk 34, said wheel having a plurality circumferentially thereof and curved corresponding to the periphery of the disk 34 to receive said disk, and also having, between each adjacent pair of the depressions 38, a radial slot 39 to receive the pin 36.

During the major part of each complete rotation of the disk 34 its periphery engages one of the peripheral depressions 38 of the wheel 37 and thereby holds said wheel and the projection 33 against rotation, but at a certain time during rotation of said disk 34 the pin 36 enters an adjacent slot 39 and thereby imparts partial rotation to the wheel 37 which rotation is permitted by the recess 35 in the disk. In other words, continuous rotation of the disk 34 obviously results in step-by-step partial rotation of the wheel 37 and the projection 33, one step for each complete rotation of the disk and with the angularity of the successive steps dependent upon the number of the depressions 38 and slots 39 in the wheels. In the present instance the wheel 37 has six depressions and slots. Therefore, SlX complete rotations of the disk 34 are necessary to produce one complete rotation of the shaft 32 and the proection 33 and a single ringing of the bell, since the projection 33 engages the arm 30 and closes the solenoid circuit to project the core or clapper 20 only once during each complete rotation of the wheel 37 The number of depressions and slots in the wheel 37 may be made gerater or less than six so as to require more or less than six complete rotations of the disk 34 to produce one complete rotation of the projection 33. Consequently, when the normal speed of the locomotive is known it is a very simple matter to construct the wheel 37 so as to obtain successive soundings of the bell at desired time intervals.

The projection 33 may i be grounded through the shaft 32 and the motor frame in which said shaft is journaled, or it may be grounded in any other suitable manner. In any event, it is apparent that so long as the switch S is closed and the locomotive is in motion the solenoid circuit will be periodically closed and opened to cause the core or clapper 20 to strike the bell and then drop to its normal position in readiness to again be projected when the solenoid circuit again is closed. On the other hand, it is equally apparent that when the switch S is open ringing of the bell will not occur despite periodic contact of the projection 33 with'the arm 30.

lVithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art, and it will of course be understoodthat changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit" of the invention scope of the ap- "pended claims. of perlpheral depressions 38 evenly spaced I Gl 8Zi-m:-"- V r v1. 1. ma toy locomotive, a bell, abel-l' clapper, electrical means operable when energized to cause said clapper to str'ike the bell, an electric circuit including said means, and means operable by movement. of thelocomotive for periodicallyclosing and open-irrg' 'said circuit. I

2. In a toy locomotive, a bell, a bell clapper, electrical means operable when energized to cause said clapper to strike the bell, an electric circuit including said means, means operable by movement of the locomotive. for periodically closing and opening said circuit, and means separate from said last mentioned means to render the first named means inoperative.

3. In a toy locomotive, a bell, a bell clapper, electrical means operable when energized to cause said clapper to strike the bell, an electric circuit including said means, and means operable by movement of the locomotive to close and open said circuit once only during an amount of travel of the locomotive driving wheels thereof.

4. In a toy locomotive, a bell, a bell clapper, electrical means operable when en- 7 produced by a plurality of rotations of the ergized to cause said clapper to strike the bell, w

an electric circuit including said means, a rotatable switch element for closing and opening said circuit, power means for the locomotive including a rotatable element, and a con-,1 nection between said last mentioned element and said switch element whereby the switch element is rotated only once during a plurality of rotations of the power element.

5. In a toy locomotive, a bell, a sole-z noid inclusive of a core constituting a clapper to be projected against the bell when the solenoid is energized, an electric circuit including said solenoid, and means operable by movement of the locomotive to periodically; open and close said circuit.

6. In a toy locomotive, a bell, a bell clapper, electrical means operable when energized to cause said clapper to strike the bell, an electric circuit including said means a rotatable switch element for closing and opening said circuit, power means for driving the locomotive inclusive of a rotatable element, and a gear connection between said switch element and the rotatable element of? said power means whereby each complete rotation of the latter element produces only partial rotation of said switch element.

7. In a toy locomotive, a bell, a bell clapper, electrical means operable when energized to cause said clapper to strike said bell, an electric circuit including said means, a shaft carrying a switch element operable during each complete rotation of said shaft means for driving the locomotive inclusive of 'J a member rotatable continuously during movement of the locomotive, anda gear connection between said member and said shaft whereby the latter is rotated only once during a plurality of complete rotations of the member. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EARL D. BOISSELIER; 

